When it comes to tablets, the Google Pixel Slate Core i5 is a great option. It features a long battery life, a great screen, and a comfortable keyboard. But despite the tablet’s many good features, it does have its share of problems. Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of this model. In the end, we can’t help but love this tablet.
Problems with external device support
The i5 Pixel Slate is not receiving external device support properly. This results in problems with the file system. Specifically, the favicon changes to generic gray icons when visiting a bookmark. Android apps will begin to crash in the background, and you will receive annoying intermittent pop-up dialogs. Even when you restart the tablet, operations that write data to disk fail. Rebooting the device temporarily fixes the problem, but the cycle repeats itself in a matter of minutes. After several days, the issue returns. Powerwashing the device and reinstalling the OS using a recovery USB did not help. The problem recurred when the Pixel Slate was rebooted. Users have reported this issue to Google, but have received no response.
The main issue with the Pixel Slate is that you cannot attach the pen to the device. It has to be stored separately. Also, there are no options to customize the Assistant button. Unlike other tablets that run Android, the Pixel Slate runs Chrome OS. Though Chrome OS is often associated with cheap school laptops, a product lead for the operating system has claimed that the system is intended to bring a desktop experience to portable devices.
Problems with the 12.3-inch touchscreen
The Pixel Slate is a 2-in-1 tablet designed for the adventurous Android or Chrome user. While the i5 chip has a few shortcomings, the device works well with a keyboard attached and with over 20 tabs. While the touchscreen is responsive, input is inconsistent and lags when using apps like Google Keep. The OS is designed for laptops, but it hasn’t done its homework yet.
Although the Pixel Slate’s hardware is impressive, the screen and performance aren’t. When working, downloading, or playing games, apps are choppy. Even when connected to a wired or wireless network, apps don’t respond as quickly as they should. The screen is a bit too small for the i5 chip. Fortunately, it’s very easy to remove the keyboard case and still enjoy the tablet’s functionality.
Problems with Chrome OS
Unlike Microsoft’s Surface Pro 6 and the iPad, Google’s Pixel Slate is not a high-end tablet. Its processor is a bit underpowered for a tablet. The company’s latest update to Chrome OS addresses these problems, but not all of them. There are still a few niggling bugs that keep it from being an excellent tablet. For example, many Android apps don’t look right on Chrome OS.
Another common problem with the i5 Pixel Slate is that it crashes when you try to import large files, or it just opens a blank tab. This device also has issues with the filesystem, which requires repetitive motion. While a headphone jack is available, it isn’t supported. Many Pixel Slate owners have reported the problem and have even filed bug reports with Google, but no action has been taken yet.
Problems with a read-only filesystem
If you’ve been using your Google Pixel slate i5 for more than a day, you’ve probably noticed that your device has suddenly switched to read-only mode. This has caused a number of problems, including the inability to write new data and updates. The good news is that the issue doesn’t affect only one Slate; multiple users are reporting the same problem.
This filesystem problem isn’t limited to the Google Pixel slate i5. Other problems include repeated pop-up dialogs, favicons fading to gray, and inability to open certain apps. Oftentimes, the only solution is to reboot the device. You can also try switching output channels to check if that fixes the problem. However, if you’ve had the same issue with your i5 Google Pixel tablet, it’s a good idea to contact Google support if you’re experiencing this issue.
If you’ve been using the device for a while, you might want to look into upgrading the storage. Although you can buy a faster eMMC storage option for a few dollars more, it can also affect the performance of your computer. If you’ve been using a eMMC filesystem, this might be a problem with your i5-powered Google Pixel slate. It’s probably not a hardware issue, but it’s worth checking into before spending a lot of money on a device.
